Patrick Lee Curnes, who is accused of killing an Ames man Wednesday night, confessed to the murder on Thursday, according to court documents.

Curnes, 43, 3507 Lincoln Way #26, was taken in for questioning by Ames police officers Wednesday night after Samuel John Kingery was found dead in Curnes’ mobile home.

A few hours later, officers arrested Curnes and charged him with first-degree murder for “willfully, deliberately and with premeditation killing another person.”

According to a court affidavit, the incident occurred after Curnes “became angered at the actions of [Kingery] in the presence of a witness” and made statements “that he wanted to kill the victim.”

Following this, Curnes was “observed arming himself with a weapon, entering the residence after the victim, and sounds of a fight were overheard,” while a witness helped to made a 911 emergency call.

Ames police officers arrived within minutes to find Kingery’s body inside Curnes’ mobile home, and Curnes and another man outside of the trailer.

Reports from the Polk County medical examiner’s office showed Kingery probably was hit with a blunt object.

“[Kingery] died from a blunt-force trauma to the head,” said Sgt. Randy Kessel, public information officer for the Ames Police Department.

“We have recovered an instrument which we believe was used in the homicide, and it’s in our possession at this time,” he said.

Kessel would not comment on the nature of the alleged murder weapon, but he did confirm it is neither a gun nor a knife.

Court documents state Curnes, who is divorced, was unemployed at the time of the incident and had been since 1996.

A preliminary hearing at the Story County Courthouse has been set for Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.

In about two weeks, Curnes will be able to enter a formal plea at his arraignment, said Steven Holmes, Story County Attorney.

Curnes is being held on $900,000 bond at the Story County Jail.